WHAT’S NEW? THIRD OF SOCIAL CARE


PROVIDERS FORCED TO SHUT Social care providers are facing a perfect storm of workforce challenges and rising cost pressures of service delivery as they are forced to turn down admissions to services and, in severe cases, shut services altogether.


This is according to independent research commissioned by learning disability charity Hſt, which found that three quarters of learning disability care providers turned down new admissions to services in 2021 while more than a third had to close their services permanently due in part to an average staff vacancy rate of nearly 16%.


While nearly all providers believe that increases in staff wages could help recruitment and retention challenges, Hſt’s latest Sector Pulse Check report found that 80% of those surveyed say the fees they receive from local authorities to deliver care will not be enough to cover their wage bills, forcing them to dig deep into their own reserves to pay their staff a fair rate.


Kirsty Matthews, CEO of Hſt, said: “Social care staff should be paid a fair wage, one which is commensurate with the responsibilities of the job and that will help reduce high turnover and vacancy rates in the sector.


“Despite the introduction of a higher National Living Wage earlier in April, record inflation means that, in real terms, most frontline staff will not see a pay upliſt and workforce challenges will persist as employees cope with the cost-of- living increase.”


Concerningly, one in 10 providers will need to cover 20% of their wage bill from their own reserves, rather than through fees paid by local authorities to deliver the right standard of care to those they support, according to the research. On


FIGHTING FOR THOSE ON


THE FRONTLINE Care management platform Log my Care has renewed its partnership with The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) and named them charity of the year to help fund and raise awareness of the support offered by the charity.


The CWC provides people working in social care in the UK with financial and mental health support. Working in social care is a rewarding role, however it comes with its challenges. The CWC is a safety net for care workers and their families who are struggling and might not have the means to support themselves.


Karolina Gerlich, CEO of the CWC, said: “We are very grateful that Log my Care has decided to support the CWC by becoming a sponsor and naming us their charity of the year. Through this partnership, Log my Care is supporting the social care workforce and showing their admiration of the amazing work achieved in social care’.


Fundraising for the CWC has already begun. The team at Log my Care went retro for ‘Wear and Care Week’, dressing up for the day and donating money to the cause. Later this year, the


twitter.com/TomorrowsCare


average, each provider surveyed will need to find £640,000 to cover the cost of wages, stretching the already finite resources of providers further.


This is at a time when the sector is in an increasingly precarious financial position, with 71% of providers reporting they are either in deficit, with costs exceeding funding, or that their surplus has decreased. This has increased from 56% in 2020. Alongside workforce challenges, Hſt’s research highlights that financial pressure is forcing providers into difficult decisions such as handing back contracts to local authorities and offering care to fewer people to remain sustainable.


https://www.hſt.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/sector-pulse-check/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=sectorpulsecheck https://www.hſt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Sector-Pulse-Check-Hſt-joint-letter-1.pdf?utm_source=spclandingpage&utm_medium=letter&utm_campaign=sectorpulsecheck


Read the full report here. Read the joint letter here.


company will hold an annual fundraising event – with a challenge event, sponsored hike and inflatable 5K all being discussed.


Sam Hussain, Founder & CEO at Log my Care commented: “We’re delighted to work with the CWC to advance the financial, professional and mental wellbeing of social care workers. CWC’s grants provide a lifeline to our frontline workers in the sector. As a company we’re committed to transforming social care and this is the perfect partnership to further that goal.”


https://logmycare.co.uk - 5 -


The charity is now calling on the government to urgently redirect additional funds from the Health and Social Care Levy into social care from year one to ensure there is sufficient funding to cover wages which reflect the real-term cost of living and attract more individuals to work in the sector. More than 20 CEOs of learning disability care providers are supporting this call through a joint letter from Hſt to the Care Minister.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44